People Making a Difference

"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world."
Howard Zinn

I got some of the most wonderful news this morning and I am excited to share!

There are some truly exceptional people I have recently become friends with through my brother-in-law and his wife. They are trying with all their heart to make a difference, just like the quote states above, by doing all they can in their tiny part of this world, to help the plight of orphans in the Ukraine. I first got to talking with them about this subject at my brother-in-law's wedding last October and I could tell they were passionate about helping these children. They were trying to organize a mission trip in March to the designated orphanage, made up of older children about ages 7 and up, and they were soooo excited!

They did go on their trip and it was an outstanding success. While they were there they taught Bible classes to the kids and let them know about the love of God. But mainly they were there to let them know about the love of other people... a love these children have never known. They played with them, tried to learn their language, hugged them and cuddled them. They showered all the love they could on these children for the brief time they were there. Their hearts and the hearts of those others who had traveled there with them were broken when they had to leave. These children needed people to love them so badly.

Our friends had grown very attached to these kids. They could see the potential locked inside each one of them to grow and learn and be happy, "normal" people. They knew there had to be more that they could do, must do, to help them find loving permanent homes.

Which leads me to the reason that I am so excited and grateful to God this morning-- the plane carrying these children to the US, all 19 of them, landed safely last night!! These precious children are all presently in the homes of host families in the NC area who are caring for and loving them for the next 3 weeks-- some of them possibly forever. They have come here with the hopes of being adopted, and some of them are already matched to the families they are staying with, which is a blessing. They will be doing a lot over the next few weeks from Bible classes to picnics. Mainly they will just be having fun, and being cared for... two things they really know nothing about where they are from.

My friend stated that last night the children were whooping and hollering just at the site of a toilet when they got home. A toilet? How many of our children are that grateful for this little convenience? They were also overjoyed when they were presented with new backpacks full of clothes that had been donated by loving souls wanting to help. All those people doing their little bit... small acts.

My family will have the incredible experience of meeting these children in a couple weeks when we go there to teach one of the Bible classes. I feel so blessed to be included, to be able to contribute a tiny amount to their memories of their weeks here, hopefully meaningful memories at that. I am excited for my children to come with me and meet them too. I just know they are going to learn something from these kids. Will it be gratitude? Acceptance? Their need to help others in this world? Not sure yet, but I am hoping this experience will have as much an impact on their lives as I am sure it will on mine.

So today has begun well! Please pray for these children and the incredibly giving people who are with them throughout these next few weeks. Pray that they will know that they are loved-- by God and by others. Pray that they ALL find loving families who are anxious to take them in and make them their own. Pray that God will continue to bless all the people involved with this effort. Just pray. And if anyone out there feels inclined to help these kids in any way please contact me and I will put you in touch with the right people. Small acts, transforming the world. It can happen. It is happening right now.